MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified on Tuesday that the dismissal of three excise tax cases against contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya does not affect other tax evasion charges or criminal complaints linked to alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

“The issue on the Discayas’ tax liabilities has nothing to do with any of their other existing or potential liabilities,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said.

He added that the dismissal also has no bearing on the liabilities of other individuals involved in the pending flood control cases.

The excise tax cases, filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) over alleged irregularities in the importation of six luxury vehicles under the Discayas’ names, were dismissed because prosecutors determined that the couple were end consumers—not the statutory taxpayers responsible for the excise tax.

Meanwhile, the DOJ said it will still file two separate tax cases against the Discayas for allegedly concealing their true income in their 2020 and 2021 tax returns before the Court of Tax Appeals.